Summon: How did the band get started?
Tragon: We started back in 1998 as a bunch of guys who wanted to be like their music idols. One thing led to another and soon we found ourselves writing our own music, releasing demos and pretty much being a proper band.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Tragon: We play black metal. Melodic and with an old school air to be more specific.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Tragon: Our fans have embraced us ever since the first days of the band, and I just can’t thank them enough for that. It gives us great strength to know that what we do means something to people out there.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Tragon: The name LORD IMPALER is actually a nickname of Vlad Tepes, aka Dracula. We first encountered it in MARDUK’s album “Nightwing” and we thought it was a really good name for a black metal band.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Tragon: The current line-up is: Tragon (vocals), Lord Nebulah (guitars), Phlegethon (bass), Nodens (drums) and Aenaon (guitars).
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Tragon: The majority of the music is written by Lord Nebulah, but everyone contributes with parts and ideas here and there. The lyrics are mostly my job, but again anyone else can come up with something good.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Tragon: My lyrics are the result of everyday philosophizing about life, it’s meaning, it’s origins. Whenever I have lingering thoughts about gods, Anti-Christianity, ancient Hellenic pride, or anything that touches on those subjects, I will transform my ideas to lyrics for the band. My main source of inspiration are books and of course thought provoking talks with friends.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Tragon: I am not a Satanist and also not much involved with the occult. They are –for me- just another form of seeking the truth or finding a meaning in order to live a better life. They are pretty valueless for me just as any other religion, I just have them a little closer to my heart because they challenge the typical values and morals, and that is always a good thing. Lyrically I refer to Satan as a non-personified will to oppose God, even if that is just the will of a godless man…
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Tragon: We have released one full length album, “Admire the Cosmos Black” in 2011, a 4-way split called “The Ascending Novelty” in 2008 (available only in vinyl), 4 demos, “The Lord Impaler” in 1999, “Twilight Wander” in 2001, “Promo 2005” in 2005 and “Demo 2009” in 2009, and in July 2013 we released a digital EP called “Babylon Whore” which was recently made available as a split CD with ATHOS.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Tragon: Babylon Whore contains two songs from our second full length album, “In Full Regalia”, which is on the making. The songs are “Babylon Whore” and “The White Dream of Ziz” and they are fast paced, melodic and quite aggressive. Lyrically the second album is a journey from challenging the gods and idols that others forced us to believe, to exploring and finally believing in ourselves. Those two songs are part of this journey.
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Tragon: Only Nodens has a personal band called NORTH GATE and he also plays in PROMETHEUS and KULT OF TAURUS.
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Tragon: We all have different musical tastes and probably different influences, but we do have a common love for traditional black metal.
Summon: Which current bands?
Tragon: BURZUM, DARKTHRONE, DARK FUNERAL, EMPEROR, GEHENNA, SATYRICON to name a few.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Tragon: We haven’t played live for a lot of time now (last show was in 2000), so I can’t answer that in all honesty. We are planning to play live this year and we are rehearsing a lot, but we can’t really tell how it is going to be on the actual stage.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Tragon: Nope.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Tragon: Our only shows were at festivals, so people weren’t really there for us. We will have to wait and see…
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Tragon: Same as above.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Tragon: Well, I am not a huge fan of death metal and certainly I prefer the European death metal style. There are only a handful of US death bands I really enjoy, like VITAL REMAINS and DEICIDE. On the other hand, the US black metal scene is easily one of the top 5 in my head. There are so many awesome and unique bands, from AGALLOCH to FALLS OF RAUROS, from ABSU to LURKER OF CHALICE, from DECEMBER WOLVES to WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, from JUDAS ISCARIOT to XASTHUR, everyone of them has something to offer and they all come with a great taste and quality. I do love the USBM scene!
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Tragon: Most of them lack the technical skills to actually stand as equals to the European and US scenes, but they are more raw and powerful and spirited, and that somewhat makes up for it. The only overseas scene that really stands out for me is the Australian, with some really hot bands, like ASTRIAAL, BE’LAKOR and WOODS OF DESOLATION.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Tragon: These last months I am mostly into Greek black metal, so I probably missed a lot of what is hot in the outside world. The bands that are usually in rotation lately are HAIL SPIRIT NOIR, VIGOUR and DIABLERY, all of them from Greece. Oh, and DEN SAAKALDTE from Norway.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Tragon: We are constantly writing new music. We have a new album in the works and whatever ideas may come until we release this one are also processed and stored for the future.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Tragon: We plan to release an anniversary EP for the 15 years since the release of our first demo in the following months. We call it “The Serpent Seal – Το αρχέγονο σκότος επιστρέφει”, and right after that we will begin recording our follow up album “In Full Regalia”. Hopefully we will be ready to hit some stages too this summer…
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/Lordimpalerband
http://lordimpaler.bandcamp.com
